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On Why I’m A Slacker

This is kind of a personal post, but I’m feeling like I need to get to sharing on my blog again so I can print it and remember some things forever…because I’m rather prone to forgetting, like, everything right now.

Back when I was still blogging on a regular basis, I would sometimes get comments on a particular post. Most of these comments were nice. Some were funny. And rarely, some were downright MEAN.

Like the guy who told me that my blog was a waste of internet space. That my life was pathetic, and if he had a life as useless and worthless as mine, that he would “off” himself to save the world from stupid, internet info wasting blogs like mine.

But that’s not the sad part.

Not even close.

The sad part, the really sad and pathetic part is that I believed him.

I started to look at my blog and picking it apart.
“Wow, I post a LOT about my kids…who else in the whole freakin world wants to see that many photos of someone else’s kids?”

“I guess chickens don’t make anyone happy like they make me happy. What the heck is wrong with me that I like stupid, smelly chickens?”

“Why would ANYONE want goats? Lame, Sarah. Really lame.”

“Nobody wants to know what grows in your sad little backyard garden. There are veggies in every store everywhere!!!”

“Who eats quail eggs? Gross.”

And I stopped blogging. I stopped sharing stories with family and friends and writing the story of my life where people could see it. And it was a lonely time for me.

So two moves later and a life with FOUR kids and no husband and living back out in Super Rural Ghost Town, AZ, something happened. Small and tiny and seemingly insignificant, it was literally life changing for me.

On a Sunday afternoon when my mom’s store is usually closed, a very sweet couple from back East stopped by the front of the house and were looking around. I came out and asked if they needed anything, and they mentioned that they had really wanted to see the store before they went home the next day. I opened the gate and chatted with them while they admired the goats and shopped in the store and loved every minute of the whole place. They were from New York and were just in awe of the openness of the country around them, and they loved experiencing the goats and chickens in their “real” settings (they had each visited a petting zoo, but had never seen animals actually living in their homes, ha!).

As we were walking back up to the gate, she asked about the animals and I mentioned that I had acquired most of them from rescue situations and that, for some reason, it was nearly impossible for me to see an animal in need and not step in and do something to help it. I have fostered literally hundreds of animals of every type, size, and kind and nursed them back to health and found them homes (or kept them…yes, I admit it!).

Now, in all the years of me doing this, I never remember anyone EVER telling me that what I was doing was a good thing. I heard so many negative comments about the animals I had and the animals I loved that I always felt guilty and bad about wanting to be with animals as much as I did. I mentioned how my husband always says that I have “animal-itus” and can’t stay away from critters and I always just shook my head and said that he was right. There was totally something “wrong” with me and I wasn’t afraid to admit it.

Then this sweet woman stopped and looked me straight in the eye and said, “Well, no, I don’t think that you have animal…whatever it is. You are a nurturer. That’s all. Thats what you are in this life, and this is the role you are set to play. You love to care for and nurture animals. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Then she smiled at me and went out the gate with her husband and drove off down the road with me standing and staring after her with my mouth hanging open.

I was in a daze for the next few hours.

Me? A nurturer?

I have a purpose in this life? I have a talent? A gift? THIS is what I’m supposed to do? There’s not something weirdly wrong with me? (um, don’t answer that one)

YES. I AM an nurturer.

YES. I HAVE a talent.

THIS is what I’m supposed to do.

And I love that about me. I love that chickens and dogs and cats and goats make me happy. I love that the sick, emaciated creatures that I take in look at me with love and adoration in their eyes. I LOVE seeing a dog who was too thin to stand, run across the yard to fetch a ball for the 6millionth time.

It fills me with joy. It totally fulfills me in this life.

Is is an amazing talent? No.

Will I ever get rich from using my gift? Nope.

Will I ever be a famous critter saver? No.

But that really doesn’t matter.

THIS IS WHO I AM.

THIS IS MY LIFE.

And no matter what anyone says at any time in any way with whatever words they choose, you can NOT change that because…

I am happy with ME and the life that brings me joy in whatever way that is.

5 thoughts on “On Why I’m A Slacker”

Sarah, I have a couple of things to say to you. First of all, it is good to have you blogging again. I love your blogs every one of them. I have always told Ammon that if I ever were to write a book, I would collaborate with you. You are a great writer. That is your talent. Second of all, you may consider nurturing as a talent, but I consider it a gift. You were give the gift to be a nurturer when you came to earth. You’ve had it in you since birth and you will continue to nurture no matter what anybody thinks or says. For those of us who have the privilege of being around you, we consider it a great blessing. In the world is a better place because of you. And last but not least, why do people waste their time reading post that they don’t like. How unfortunate it was that he doesn’t value of self-worth and human decency. Love you Sarah!

Hi Sarah! It’s good to see you blogging again. Even though I don’t know you very well, I have to say, you really are an awesome writer. I enjoy reading your posts and seeing your family grow. Sounds like an update is needed there! 🙂

I’m so glad that couple came all the way from New York to speak to you. I think she might even have been an angel sent to remind you of how special you are and that there are critters and kids that love and need you!

I’m glad you wrote down that experience, so that if you ever have those “I’m not enough” feelings again, you can look back and read it and remember that Heavenly Father is aware of you, and that’s why He sent that women with that specific compliment just for you. Don’t you love those little signs that He is aware of the seemingly insignificant parts of our little lives?! And I say “seemingly” because they are important, and not just to you. They are incredibly important to every animal you have had compassion for, and they are important to your children because they are learning that talent/gift of compassion from you. And they are important to the rest of your family and friends because the things make you happy make us happy! I’ve always been impressed with your unending love and compassion for animals. Love you, you incredible lady!

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.
-- Groucho Marx

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